Rabeprazole improves health-related quality of life in patients with erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of rabeprazole 20 mg once a day on patient-reported health-related quality of life in routine clinical practice. Patients with erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease participating in an open-label, 8-week study completed the SF-36 Health Survey before and after treatment with rabeprazole. For all SF-36 scales, there was a statistically significant (p < or = 0.007) improvement in mean scores from baseline to week 8. Improvements in each of the subscales, except for physical functioning, general health, and mental health, were at least 5% in magnitude, a level considered clinically meaningful. Furthermore, while baseline scores were significantly poorer than general United States population scores, follow-up scores for four of the subscales (role limitations due to physical problems, social functioning, role limitations due to emotional problems, and mental health) were comparable to general population scores. In conclusion, rabeprazole significantly improved health-related quality of life in erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease patients and restored social functioning and emotional well-being to levels comparable to those observed in the United States general population.